The Abbey of Montecassino was founded by St Benedict around 529 AD on what remained of a Roman fortification.
The Abbey has been destroyed and rebuilt several times; The Longobards of Zotone destroyed the Abbey in 577 AD, Saracens invaded and destroyed the monastery by fire in 883, it was destroyed in 1349 by an earthquake [...]
Archive for the tag 'Italy'
Filed under Cassino 2025, Heritage, Holidays
The Abbey of Monte Cassino
2 Comments CherryPie on Jun 9th 2025
Filed under Anecdotes, Cassino 2025, Holidays
VE Day 80th Anniversary
In the run up to the 80th anniversary of VE day I took part in a virtual challenge, walking 80km along the Normandy Beaches.
I decided to have my medal presented to me by the Cassino War Memorial in the Commonwealth War Cemetery during our recent visit to Cassino just a few days before VE day.
The [...]
6 Comments CherryPie on May 28th 2025
Filed under Cassino 2025, Heritage, Holidays
Cassino Conversations
The main reason for travelling to Cassino was to visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery where Mr C’s grandfather is listed on one of the large tablets that commemorates soldiers with no known grave. Mr C’s grandfather took part in the invasion of Sicily in 1943 but the glider he was in was one of many [...]
5 Comments CherryPie on May 26th 2025
Filed under Anecdotes, Cassino 2025, Holidays
Cassino – Day Five
We made sure we attended breakfast earlier rather than later to ensure that bread, cheese and meats were available to us. Whilst we were in the breakfast room, Mauro, who we met during the battle of Cassino discussion the previous night, made a point of shaking our hands and saying goodbye to us before he [...]
6 Comments CherryPie on May 13th 2025
Filed under Anecdotes, Cassino 2025, Holidays
Cassino – Day Three
I awoke wondering what time it was. Light was seeping through the curtains but everywhere was quiet. I squinted at my watch without wearing my glasses and was confused it looked like 8.30 but that couldn’t be possible the alarm had been set for 7.15 and I hadn’t heard it go off.
I put my watch [...]
4 Comments CherryPie on May 11th 2025
Filed under Anecdotes, Cassino 2025, Holidays
Cassino – Day Two
The alarm woke us at 4am. We got washed and dressed then drove the short distance to Manchester airport.
When we arrived at the meet and greet car park, the barrier didn’t lift to let us in. Mr C pressed the intercom button to speak to someone who checked his details up on the system. Mr [...]
5 Comments CherryPie on May 11th 2025
Filed under Cassino 2025, Holidays
A Room with a View
Back from my travels…
2 Comments CherryPie on May 8th 2025
